Dual seal self-closing boat drain plug apparatus

• US 6,973,891 B1
• Filed: 12/23/2004
• Issued: 12/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jerald R. Warner
• Original Assignee: Jerald R. Warner
• Inventors: Warner, Jerald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Avila, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US11/021,307
• Time in Patent Office: 355 Days
• Field of Search: 114/183.R, 114/197, 251/144, 137/614.17, 137/614.2
• US Class Current: 114/197
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 13/00 Conduits for emptying or ballasting; Self-bailing equipment; Scuppers draining means for hatches B63B19/26; centrifugal bilge-water separators B04; arrangements of installations for treating ballast water B63J4/002; pipes in general F16L
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 13/02 Ports for passing water through vessels' sides jet propulsors with clogging prevention means B63H11/01

Abstract

The present invention is a drain plug assembly designed and configured to remain in the drain hole of a conventional pleasure boat, regardless of whether the vessel is in or out of the water. This drain plug assembly includes a body assembly having a single chamber. The chamber houses a shut-off valve for enabling the boater to open or close the drain plug assembly. This will allow water to escape or prevent it from entering the boat, respectively. A safety assembly is included in the chamber. The safety assembly prevents water passage into the boat should the user forget to close the drain plug assembly, prior to placing the boat in water.

Claims

1. A dual seal one-way self-closing drain plug apparatus for a boat comprising:

a hollow body assembly having an inlet end and an outlet end thereof;

a single chamber being located in said hollow body assembly between said inlet end and said outlet end;

said chamber housing a valve assembly including a manual mechanism for opening and closing said valve assembly, wherein said manual mechanism includes a handle coupled to said valve assembly for opening and closing thereof, and said handle is shaped into a paddle that, when in the open position, is disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said boat, whereby said valve assembly is automatically closed when left open and when exposed to moving fluid caused by movement of said boat;

said chamber also housing a safety device; and

said safety device enabling fluid flow to occur in one direction and prevent fluid flow from an opposite direction by blocking access to said first chamber regardless of the position of said valve assembly; and

said valve assembly including a shaft interacting with said safety device in such a manner as to move safety device into a closed position when the valve assembly is in the closed position, thereby creating a secondary seal.

2. A drain plug assembly as in claim 1 wherein said chamber includes an attaching device for enabling attachment to a drain hole on said boat.

3. A drain plug assembly as in claim 1 further including a filter secured to said inlet end of said hollow body assembly for preventing debris from passing through said assembly.

4. A drain plug assembly as in claim 1 wherein said paddle includes a front surface having a large surface area and an outer end that is curved so as to scoop said fluid as said boat moves forward.

5. A drain plug assembly as in claim 1 wherein said handle further includes a plurality of legs secured thereto and in contact with said hollow body assembly for providing rotational control of said handle.

6. A drain plug assembly as in claim 1 wherein said handle includes a catch mechanism so as to prevent said handle from opening via propeller wash that is generated when said boat is moving in reverse.

7. A drain plug assembly as in claim 6 wherein said catch mechanism includes a flexible member, extending along the length of said handle and having a catch pin and a release tab secured thereto, an indentation being located on said hollow body, said catch pin when in contact with said indentation prevents further movement of said handle and said release tab enables release of said catch pin from said indentation for manual rotation of said handle.

8. A drain plug assembly as in claim 7 wherein said catch pin is tapered.

9. A dual-seal one-way self-closing drain plug apparatus for a vessel comprising:

a. a hollow body assembly having a single chamber formed therein, said chamber having a single inlet end and a single outlet end thereof;

b. said single chamber housing a valve assembly including a lever for opening and closing said valve assembly, said lever being shaped into a paddle that, when in the open position, is disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said vessel, whereby said valve assembly is automatically closed when left open and when exposed to moving fluid caused by movement of said vessel;

said chamber also housing a safety device; and

said safety device enabling fluid flow to occur in one direction and prevent fluid flow from an opposite direction by blocking access to said first chamber regardless of the position of said valve assembly; and

said valve assembly including a shaft interacting with said safety device in such a manner as to move safety device into a closed position when the valve assembly is in the closed position, thereby creating a secondary seal.

10. A drain plug assembly as in claim 9 wherein said chamber includes an attaching device for enabling attachment to a drain hole on said vessel.

11. A drain plug assembly as in claim 9 further including a filter secured to said inlet end of said hollow body assembly for preventing debris from passing through said assembly.

12. A drain plug assembly as in claim 9 wherein said paddle includes a front surface having a large surface area and an outer end that is curved so as to scoop said fluid as said vessel moves forward.

13. A drain plug assembly as in claim 9 wherein said handle further includes a plurality of legs secured thereto and in contact with said hollow body assembly for providing rotational control of said handle.

14. A drain plug assembly as in claim 9 wherein said handle includes a catch mechanism so as to prevent said handle from opening via propeller wash that is generated when said vessel is moving in reverse.

15. A drain plug assembly as in claim 14 wherein said catch mechanism includes a flexible member, extending along the length of said handle and having a catch pin and a release tab secured thereto, an indentation being located on said hollow body, said catch pin when in contact with said indentation prevents further movement of said handle and said release tab enables release of said catch pin from said indentation for manual rotation of said handle.

16. A drain plug assembly as in claim 15 wherein said catch pin is tapered.

17. A dual seal one-way self-closing drain plug apparatus for a boat comprising:

a hollow body assembly having an inlet end and an outlet end thereof and having attaching threads for enabling attachment to a drain hole on said boat;

a single chamber being located in said hollow body assembly between said inlet end and said outlet end;

said chamber housing a valve assembly including a manual mechanism for opening and closing said valve assembly, wherein said manual mechanism includes a handle coupled to said valve assembly for opening and closing thereof, and said handle is shaped into a paddle that, when in the open position, is disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said boat, said paddle having a large front surface area and an outer end that curved so as to scoop said fluid as said boat moves forward whereby said valve assembly is automatically closed when left open and when exposed to moving fluid caused by movement of said boat;

said chamber also housing a safety device; and

said safety device enabling fluid flow to occur in one direction and prevent fluid flow from an opposite direction by blocking access to said first chamber regardless of the position of said valve assembly;

said valve assembly including a shaft interacting with said safety device in such a manner as to move safety device into a closed position when the valve assembly is in the closed position, thereby creating a secondary seal; and

,

a filter secured to said inlet end of said hollow body assembly for preventing debris from passing through said assembly.

18. A drain plug assembly as in claim 17 wherein said handle includes a catch mechanism so as to prevent said handle from opening via propeller wash that is generated when said boat is moving in reverse.

19. A drain plug assembly as in claim 18 wherein said catch mechanism includes a flexible member, extending along the length of said handle and having a catch pin and a release tab secured thereto, an indentation being located on said hollow body, said catch pin when in contact with said indentation prevents further movement of said handle and said release tab enables release of said catch pin from said indentation for manual rotation of said handle.

20. A drain plug assembly as in claim 19 wherein said catch pin is tapered.